The tax benefit will be cut to $130 a month starting January 1. That’s from $245 a month. So, what does this mean for Marylanders?

MTA says those using the $64 passes remain completely covered by the $130 benefit, but:

“If they’re going, say, from Baltimore to Washington, they will still get a benefit of $130 towards the cost of their $150 monthly pass, but they will have to use some after tax money to pay for the rest of it,” Alves said.

MTA says about 6,000 Marc train riders and almost 3,000 bus commuters in the state participate in the program. Max Tondre, who commutes from Penn Station to Washington, D.C., is one of them.

“It’s a significant hit for us,” Tondre said.

And while mass transit commuter benefits fall, drivers commuting will get a slightly bigger break as parking benefits jump to $250 a month.

“If you have transit, you get effectively almost about half of what you do if you’re parking,” Tondre said. “It’s frustrating. I think it’s unfair, I think it should be, across the board it should be fair and even for everybody. “

Benefits could be restored retroactively when Congress returns from break.

MTA says anyone with questions about the change in benefits should call 410-767-8750.